I stopped eat meat in february 2011 (near two years). I tried before when i was 16, but i just did it for 6 month. At this age, i hadn't the knowledge in nutrition and there was no internet, and all people said me it was not good to do this. And after 6 month i stopped. But I always felt in myself that it is not good to eat animals when it is not necessary (survival, no choice...). But this time, i had all that I need to be a vegan and I know what to eat to stay in good health. And I can say, it is not so hard ! Just some habits to change... And since some months, i stopped to eat fish, milk ans eggs too. Not difficult for me because when I stopped meat, I nearly stopped fish, milk ans eggs too. I just eat them when I went to restaurant or to a friend's diner. And I eat the more possible organic food. And for my training, i don't eat protein shake or else, just good food.

In sport, i started "savate" (french boxing) when i was 18 and go to muay thai when I was 23. From 27 to 29 I did'nt do any sport cause my club has closed. I just did some jumping rope, running, push up, chin up and bodyweight squat sometimes, but really not often. So in October 2012, i decided to do another sport (maybe the fear to go to my 30 years xD), and I choose strenght training, cause I have been always interested in it, but doesn't have time and energy to do it when i was boxing. And after, nearly 3 month of training, I can say I love that !

There is no good gym in my town, just fitness gym with machines and not even a power rack. And as I don't like to train on machine, i buy cheap barbells, dumbells and 90Kg (198 lbs) weight to train at home in my garage. And now i am sure to love strenght training and I want to continue. So in two or three month, I will buy a Power rack and olympic barbell, and two 2" thick dumbells + weight. Here is for my small "sport" history. I note all my workout, and i think I will start a log on this forum to keep motivation, cause sometimes it is hard to train always alone. My friends don't want to train with me, they don't love sport...

I would say thanks to this site (and others), because it's a good motivation and information source to people. And it also shows to people that we can build the same muscles and strenght in being vegan ! (and in better health form body to mind, my thinking)

**Sorry for my poor knowledge in english, I hope that all is understandable

Hello and welcome to the forum my friend. I hope you enjoy your time here. Thanks for sharing your background and story. Congrats on the going vegan and reaping the benefits of a heart healthy, plant strong and compassionate way of living

Have fun setting up your home gym. It sound like it is going to be awesome!! Oh and your english is a OK!

Hi Mika, welcome to the group. I also have found this site to be very motivational. It totally can be frustrating not having a gym nearby that you are satisfied with, I hear you there. Amazing what you can do at home with some basic weights though. Where in Belgium do you live?